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james Deauville to see the aristocracy at work and play. Also the Vendee whilst it can be a little overcrowded in the height of the season check out St.Gile Croix de Ville (if the spelling is correct) also the brideg at St Nazaire and I think one of the best bridges ever the Millau bridge near Tolouse.

Quote: Originally posted by TethersEnd on 26/11/2008

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Rather than starting another 'favourite places' a 'worth visiting' might have been more revealing

I offer , Oradour sur glane, Vimy ridge, railcar nr Compiegne.

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I would really like to put Oradour sur glane on the itinerary for next year or the year after but is it really suitable for a child of 9 or 10? Having two older brothers he is quite mature and has recently been doing WWII at school in a fairly light way but I don't want to take him somewhere that is going to give him nightmares.

Any thoughts?

Susie

It's a very atmospheric place - and obviously quite moving.  The commentaries, and some of the closely packed text in the new visitor centre can be quite upsetting - but the village itself is less harrowing than you might think.  We went for the second time this year, the first time being some years ago, and it seems less authentic now than it did the first time, when it really did seem like it had just been abandoned to it's fate.  Now, with the 'tidying up', presumably on the grounds of Health and Safety, the new visitor centre and many more notices it felt to us to be just a bit more of a 'theme-park' which isn't meant, at all, to denigrate what happened there. 

My youngest son can't have been much older than yours when we went - he was fascinated by his grandad's stories of the war - and he found the place really interesting, but wasn't at all upset by it.

I'd suggest you have a look at some of the websites available and see what you think.   There's no doubt that some of the information doesn't pull any punches  but it reflects a true story - and is there so that people will remember the 642 people who died and hopefully not repeat any of the acts which happened there!

Waterfalls: The Cirque de Navacelles has a lovely waterfall in easy walk of the car park (with disabled parking).  The Cirque itself is a huge circular 'hole in the ground' with a small village at the bottom where the waterfall is - you can sit in a cafe overlooking the waterfall, too (and marvel at the 'electric toilet!!!).  We stayed at Val de Cantobre when we visited (we've been several times, with our sons, and with friends).  Nearish to the Grotte de Demoiselles, mentioned by Floydfan, too.

There's also a waterfall near the Cirque d'Autoire in the Lot region - literally over the road and over the wall from the parking area - spectacular fern-type grotto - and quite a long fall for the water.   Autoire is one of the villages I mentioned, with fairytale buildings - like something from a storybook.  I'll try and remember some of the names of others, but there are so many, all over France - you just come across them on your travels.  We stayed at Domaine de la Faurie at Senergues, when we visited this area.

Edit - I was just about to go back to mention the Cascade de Sautadet - but someone beat me too it.  Easy walking, easy parking - we stayed at Chateau de Boisson when visiting here, but there are nearer sites.

Also to add St Cirq Lapopie as a 'favourite' no waterfall, though - lovely village, but difficult walking perhaps.

More waterfalls,

  Highest one we have ever seen is the one at the Cirque de Gavarnie a little way south of Lourdes. The cirque itself is amazing with the waterfall falling sheer for about 2000 ft. A fair walk from Gavarnie village but pretty level going on a decent track. 

Another very impressive one is Rougets Cascade near Samoens in the French Alps. You can drive right up to this one and its a beaut.

Favourite places ?      hundreds ! but here are a few,   Saumur, Montsoreau,Candes St Martin, Chinon, Amboise Sully, Briare,  .....all in the Loire.     Pont du Gard, Uzes, Mount Ventoux, Arles, Avignon, Seguret, Caromb, Sault  ....in Provence .   Anywhere in the Auvergne but especially the old volcanic area around the Puy de Dome, Pontgibaud and Pontamur. Alsace and Lorraine are also great if you enjoy pretty villages.

 My favourite area,........to be honest anywhere once I get past about Rouen.

Walking in the high alps the highlight being ascending Mt Blanc but a lot,lot easier is the cable car up the Aigille de midi out of Chamonix,the views are fantastic.

Other areas I love are verdon,tarn,Ardeche gorges.All in all having visited nearly 70 countries throuhout the world France is still one of my Fav countries to visit.